My bill (HB 1220) to allow pregnant minors to receive prenatal, delivery process, or postnatal care was heard in committee last night. It failed on a 6-7 vote. 1/9
Currently in SD physicians may only give a minor any kind of prenatal care if delay would threaten a minor’s life or health or if parents/guardians give consent. This law makes it difficult for a pregnant minor who wants prenatal care to receive it. 2/9
Many pregnant teens arrive for prenatal care alone, often due to parents or guardians’ inability to take time off from work or who are unsupportive of the pregnancy. This becomes a barrier to patients to receive necessary care. 3/9
This bill would allow prenatal care to be given to pregnant minors & also allow them to choose an epidural to manage their pain if their parent or guardian aren’t around to consent or if their p/g withholds care. 4/9
It’s not uncommon for a minor to arrive at the hospital in labor & alone. They’re scared & in pain & want an epidural to manage pain, but can’t receive it w/o a parent or guardian present to consent. For some, this means waiting hours until they arrives. Some never show. 5/9
Healthcare professionals who testified spoke about the importance of prenatal care & how they are forced to deny care if p/g are absent or unwilling to consent. Some have seen brain damaged babies because women have pushed so long & have been denied an epidural. 6/9
What’s even more inconsistent with this situation is immediately following delivery, these same young women who may have been denied prenatal care or pain management are now entrusted and expected to consent to health care for their newborn. 7/9
Opponents argued that our focus should be on parent/daughter communication. That parental consent is more important. That care can already be given to minors (it can’t). This is wishful thinking. Some parents will never be a part of their daughter’s life. It’s the sad truth. 8/9
Every denial of care creates unnecessary risk to the patient, her pregnancy, & her baby. We must focus on supporting patients as they make informed decisions to enable a healthy pregnancy. 9/9
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